Ludhiana: Panic grips as school van ferrying 17 students caught fire at village Jhande near Baddowal on Friday afternoon. The students were rescued timely and major tragedy was averted.
The Sadar police reached the spot and initiated investigation in the case. It was found that the van was running on LPG cylinder due to which it caught fire. Fire tender also reached spot and doused the fire. Moreover, the van was packed to its capacity as it was having seating capacity of ten passengers but 17 were ferried in it.
The police have detained the driver of the school van Balwinder Singh and slapped case against relevant sections of the IPC. The police have impounded the van.
A case has been registered under Sections 279 (reckless driving), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC against van driver Balwinder Singh and owner of the school Bishambar Prasad, who is local leader of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP).
According to information, the van of Guru Gobind Singh Public School, Baddowal was dropping students in nearby villages. At around 2.30 pm the van crossed Sua Road at Jhande village and it caught fire. The students raised an alarm and the villagers gathered on the spot and rescued the students timely. Later, the police was also informed. The students were of 3 to 6 plus year of age group.
The recent incident has again highlighted the fact that the unsafe school vehicles are plying on the roads and endangering the lives of students.
Despite the strict orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court and the government, the vehicles ferrying students violates the norms and the school authorities have turned blind eye towards the same.
The parents of the school students have demanded strict action against the driver of the van and the school authorities.